Flange for piano-actions.



J. N. BROWN.

FLANGE FOR PIANO ACTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. I91].

1 ,27 1 130. I Patent -d July 2, 1918.

INVENTOR W 1 TN ESSES J 5 -fi/v wn.

muss it. snow; or ene a, ILLINois.

-IFLANGE r03 PIANO-ACTIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ju1y 2, 19118.

Application filed May 14, 1917. Serial 0. 168,882.

ea i mji ties/w er Be it known thatI, Jnnros N. Bnow x', a citizenofthe llnite'd States, and a resident theioity of Chicago n the county of-Cook and Sta ire of Illinois j have invented certain new and useful Imprpueinents in Flanges fer; iia eeetiens a d L4 .--.h li by vde are h t 1efo ewine.isia ll, elem; end we .d l' riitiee-iefthesemeqr teteeeebe n be i eewenwiyin d winssend t9 th m n s etrefwnee .n edithe which forn a part 'oilthis s a cification.

T s m'e ien relies e n imp o e f m, cili o aefieiefle e d n e-q adapted to be mounted uponthe-hammerrail of a piano said flange being formed to engage around an edge of; the flange-comb and be removably clamped thereon in an uli'ned'position toremox abl'y hold the pivotp e mm r clam e etween la i jaws integrally for ned'on said hammerrail and flange, thus atfor'dinga flange readily permitting the remoral of a hammer or shifting of the flangealong the flange-comb to any desiredipo sition thereon by simply releasing aretaining screw, p I

It is an object of this invention; to provide a flange fora pianoaction adapted to be readily clamped inalined positionupon a flange-rail t o pivotally hold a piano hamnierin position upon a hammer-rail.

.It is als'o an object of this inyention to construct a combination flange-comb and flange adapted "to Y and pivotally hold a piano hammer upon a hammer-rail It is furthemore anobjeot oii this invention to Eprdduce a hooked flajnge having a claniping jaw'thereonadapted to be removablyn'securedinsan alined position upona flange-rail toc oact with one of a number of notched'clamping 'jaw's forming a pztrt of said flange rail .to releasably and .pivotally connect a piano hammer j to a hamme arail.

Iti'san important object ofthisinvention to create a flange for pianoaotion simple, inexpensive and of zefl'ectiye construction adapted toco-act with a flangeineinber *secured to the hammer-rail of aip ianov to-niovably and .releasably. hold piano Y hammers in position (upon ,a hammer-mil v i Other and further important objectsof the invention will be iapparentirom thcv disclosures in the drawings rand. specification.

.,The invention i(in;-a- :piefe" 'edlfforinl is illustrated. in. V the, drawings t and hereinafter more "fully described.

On thedrawingsr- I F gure 1 1s a side 'elevational iew of a piano action, showing an improved formof flange and flan'gerail, embodying th'e'princ ple o t hold a hammer in position upon a-haminer- 'i i v v i V. v i I 2 vi a f agmentary :fro t levati n of one end of a hammer-rail Ashowing a i' t sp fts t d t h w. e nt 'e i n' meaty detailyiew tires invention, used to pivotally j nee ei d flan s, m unte new,

the ordinary type and comprises. a hammerrail 1, to which are connected by any suitable means a damper 2, a whipioi wi p pen 3, a jack 4, a1id a back c heokfi. PiyotaHy mounted upon the upper front nargin of the hammer-rail 1 1, bymeans of a flange and flange-plate embodying the principles of this invention, is the hammer-butt 6; of a opiano-han mer'7. v s a The hammer-rail 1, is made ofwood or any other suitable material, and'has formed in the front face thereof, "a short distance from and parallel to the top, a continuous longitudinally extending groove 8 forming a molding 9, extendingfrom one end of'the hannner-rail to the other endtliereof along the upper front margin of said hammer-rail.

Securely mounted uponjthe front face of the molding 9, by means of retaining screws 10, is a flange-comb, flange-rail or flange plate 11, made of steel or other suitable metal, countersunk toreceive said screws 10, {ind of a width sufficient topermit the lower edgethereof to extend beyondrthe lower edge of the molding 9, so that the u per sidefof said flange-rail extends above the upper i edge or the molding. Integrally formed in the plane of the flange-rail 1 1, along the upperysidc thereofare a plurality of'equidistantly-spaced lugs' or jaws 12 each=having atransverse grooyeorrchannel 13, formed in the front face thereof near the upper or outer end and parallel to the top and bottom edges of said flange-rail. Drilled in the flange-rail 11, between the screws 10, and the upper side of the flange-rail are a plurality of longitudinally alined apertures 1%, V

one disposed directly in line with each of the jaws 12. Removably secured upon the flange-rail 11, over each of the aws 12, and

its corresponding aperture l i, is a'flange jecting lower edge of the flange-rail, while integrally formed on the other end thereof is a clamping lug or'tongue 1S, of-reduced width equal to the width of the jaws 12. To

make the flange act as a resilient clamping V member it is slightly arched or bent between theends thereof as denoted by the numeral 19, to rigidly but removably clamp the pivot pin 20, of a hammenbutt 6, seatedin one of the channels 13, parallel to the hammer-rail 1. A fastening or mounting screw 21, isremovably engagedthrough each slot 16, and through one of theaperturesl t, of the flange-rail and is threaded into the hammer rail so that the head ofthe fastening screw contacts the V arched portion 19, and tends to straighten the same out thus tightly clamping the pivot-pin 20, in the channel 13, between the jaw 12, and the respective clamping lug 18, of the flange, to pivotally hold a hammer-butt in position upon theh'ammerrail, properly positioned at right angles to the hammers-rail.

Y i In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 5and .6, the construction of the flange is similar to that already described. The

longitudinally disposed groove 22, narrower than the groove 8, forming a molding 23' between the groove and the top of the hammerrail. Positioned upon the molding 23, is a flange-plate 21, made of steel or other suitable metal and of a length suiiicient to perma "the lower rounded endfthereof to' extend beyond the lower edge of the molding 23 when" the upper end is flushwith the up- 2a, is of a width edual'to that of the spring plate 15, of the flange, and has an aperture per edge of said molding. The flange-plate therein. Integrallyforrned centrally on the 7 upper end'of the'fiange-plate-andin a plane therewith is a aw '25, 'having'a transverse groove or channel 26, :in the face thereof parallel to the ends of the flange-plate. ,To rigidly hold-the flange-plate 24, infposition upon the molding 23,'with the jaw 25, extending upwardly beyond the upper edge ture in said flange-plate, and with the clamping lug 18 positioned in front ofthe jaw 25.; The flange and flange-plate may now be positioned upon the molding 23, with the outer central portion of the hook 17,"contacting and parallel'with the surface 27, of the hammer-rail'to hold the device disposed at right angles to the edges of the hammerrail., The 'pivot pin 20, of a hammer-butt may now be positioned to seat in the channel 26, and'ascrew 21, is then" inserted through the slot 16, and the registering aperture of the flange-plate, and is threaded into the hammer-rail, thehead of the screw compressing the arched portion 19, of the flange and tightly cl'amping' the lug 18, upon the pivot pin 20, to pivotally hold the hammerbutt in position disposed at right angles to the hammer-rail. i n

It will of course be understoodthat any number of flange membersmay be removably secured upon the stationary flangeplate 11, independently of one'another to 7 form a complete flange permitting the piano hammers to be readily removed for repairs, replacement or shifted into a different position upon the hanuner-rail, by simply rethe hammer-rail molding 23, by means of r the mounting screws21. The flanges are mounted with. the hooks 17,"abutting the surface 27 of the hammer-rail, thus insurmg a"proper'positioning'offthe flanges at right angles to the edges of the hammerhammer-railhis however prov ded w1th a r i I 1 rail.

the flange as shown and described is adapted for use in pivotally mounting' pianohammers'upon the hammer-rail 'of a piano act1on,s'aid flange may be used as a' holding flange'for the wippen 'and damper or for. pivotally' mounting any of the other pivoted members of the piano action in position, or furthermore the flange may be used for any other suitable purposes other than" those hereinbe'fore described; V.

I am aware that variousdetails ofcon 'struction may be varied through' a "wide range without departing fromjthe principles of this invention, and therefore 'doonot purpose "limiting the patent granted other-V wise than 'necessitat ed the prior art? I'cla'1m as m'y'inventioni '1 pivotally mounting piano- V hammers comprising" an apertured flangeplate, a grooved jaw integrally formed thereon to receive the pivot-pin of a pianohammer, a slotted flange clamp engaged on said flange-plate, a hook integrally formed on one end thereof to engage around one edge of said flange-plate to hold said flange clamp in proper position, a clamping lug integrally formed on the other end 0 said flange clamp disposed over said grooved jaw, and a screw-engaged through the registering slot and aperture in said flange clamp and flange iplate to hold said flange clamp secured in position and tightly clamping the pivot-pin between said jaw and clamping lug.

2. In a piano action flange, a grooved flange-plate adapted to receive the pivot-pin of a piano-hammer seated therein, a hooked flange member adapted to contact said pivotpin and engage around one edge of said flange-plate, and means for removably holding said flange-plate and flange member together to pivotally hold the in a mounted position.

3. In a piano action flange, a flange-plate having an aperture therein, a grooved lug integral therewith, a spring plate on said flange-plate having a slot therein adapted to register with said aperture, a clamping tongue integral with said spring plate adapted to register with said grooved lug for pivotally holding a piano-hammer in position, a hook integrally formed on said spring plate adapted to engage around one edge of said flangeplate to hold the spring plate alined therewith, and a screw engaged through said slot and aperture to hold said grooved lug and clamping tongue together.

piano-hammer 4. The combination with the hammer-rail of a piano action, a molding formed thereon, a flange-plate mounted thereon extending beyond the edges thereof, a hooked flan e member engaged around one edge of said flange-plate, and means engaging in said molding for clamping said flange-plate and flange member together to pivotally hold a. piano-hammer removably mounted at right angles to the edges of said shoulder.

5. The combination with a hammer-rail, of a grooved flange-plate thereon, an arched spring-plate thereon, a hookintegrally formed at one end thereof engaged around one edge of said flange-plate, and a screw engaged through said plates and in said hammer-rail to hold said plates in position thereon and also acting to hold said plates together to |pivotally hold a piano-hammer in position on said hammer-rail.

6. The combination with a hammer-rail having a groove therein, a flange-plate secured thereon partly closing said groove, and a hooked flange contacting said flangeplate with the hooked portion thereof engaged around the lower edge of said flangeplate and contacting one wall of said groove to hold said flange and flange-plate from rotating and with said flange and flangeplate disposed at right angles to the edges of the hammer-rail.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS N. BROWN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES \V. HILLS, Jr., EARL M. HARDINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

